Obituary of Henry Louis Traylor

Henry Louis “Sharif” Traylor 63, a resident of Santa Cruz, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Monday, November 8th. Just like he dealt with all experiences in life, Sharif managed his Colon Cancer with strength, positivity and determination. He wanted to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible as a Dad and Pawpa. On his final days, he was surrounded by his life partner and family who meant the world to him. Sharif was born on March 15th, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. He then moved to the Bay Area and ultimately to Santa Cruz in the 1970s to attend the University of Santa Cruz. Sharif was the first person in his family to pursue higher education. He completed his undergrad at UC Santa Cruz and obtained his Master’s Degree from UC Davis. He then went on to have a dedicated career with the state of California through his work at the Energy Commission and then at the California Coastal Commission in which he served as an Enforcement Officer. In this role, he ensured that all Californians would have the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful beaches. In his spare time, he loved dancing to Reggae, attending shows like those from the great Don Carlos at Moe’s Alley, watching & discussing sports (Lakers, Warriors and Giants were some of his favorites), spending time with his family, and enjoying the serene beauty of the California Coast with his life partner, Dorothy. Sharif was a man with many visions for himself and his loved ones. He is survived by his life partner, Dorothy; son, Oba; daughter, Azizi (Miles); granddaughter, Azmina; grandson, Davion; brother, Corey; mother of Oba, Nyoka; mother of Azizi, Vicki; as well as a loving extended family and many friends. A Celebration of Sharif’s Life will be held in March 2022. Details will be available closer to the date. Please email azizitraylor@gmail.com if you would like to attend.